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246.e4 Dermatomyositis

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DERMATOMYOSITIS Hair loss over a bony prominence, which is typical of DERMATOMYOSITIS Adult dog with scarring lesions of dermatomyositis.
the disease.

○ Treatment of focal lesions with topical may cause a marked increase in cyclosporine Technician Tips
0.1% tacrolimus ointment blood level. • Severely affected dogs may have difficulty
• Supportive care includes use of topical opening their mouths, and these dogs may
antimicrobial shampoos to control/minimize PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME need special care when being anesthetized.
secondary infections, avoiding mechanical • After anesthesia, these dogs need careful
trauma to the face (avoid gentle leaders–type Prognosis is variable depending on severity. monitoring, and their head needs to be
muzzle collars), aggressive bathing, or harsh Mild cases may become stable without further elevated because they are prone to aspira-
shampoos. problems, although scarring of the skin may tion pneumonia due to high prevalence of
• Avoid intense sunlight. be noted. Dogs with more severe skin lesions megaesophagus.
may be prone to recurrent skin problems. Cases
Nutrition/Diet with severe myositis have a poor prognosis for Client Education
• Soften dry food. long-term survival. Affected individuals likely require a higher level
• Provide water and food on raised platform of skin care than unaffected dogs.
to minimize dysphagia. PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS
Possible Complications Comments SUGGESTED READING
Hnilica KA, et al: Small animal dermatology: a color
• Chronic prednisone use can cause iatro- • Facial skin lesions in a young Shetland atlas and therapeutic guide, ed 4, St. Louis, 2017,
genic hyperadrenocorticism and immune sheepdog or collie are very evocative of other Elsevier, pp 355-358.
suppression. disorders (i.e., demodicosis or dermatophy-
• Pentoxifylline can cause gastric irritation, tosis), whereas involvement of the tip of the ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED
elevated coagulation times, and nervous tail and pinnae is much more suggestive of READING
irritability. dermatomyositis. Miller WH Jr, et al: Muller & Kirk’s Small animal
• Cyclosporine: diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, • The waxing and waning nature of lesions dermatology, ed 7, St. Louis, 2013, Saunders, pp
gingival hyperplasia, and gingivitis are pos- renders evaluation of the efficacy of different 585-587.
sible. Monitor for tumors. drugs very difficult.
AUTHOR: Karen Moriello, DVM, DACVD
Recommended Monitoring Prevention EDITOR: Manon Paradis, DMV, MVSc, DACVD
Cyclosporine: for chronic use, test collies and • Do not breed affected individuals.
Shetland sheepdogs for being homozygous • Minimize exposure to UV light for affected
for the mutant MDR1/ABCB1-Δ gene, which individuals.

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